Your dream is right around the corner: Love it. Live it.
If you’re looking to start your college education, finish your high school education, advance in a career, or learn English, we have the high-quality classes and supportive community to help.
We’re not only on the North Side, South Side, West Side, and East Side. We’re also by your side.
(Select a school to find out more)
(Select a school to find out more)
Harold Washington College
The Loop, 30 E. Lake St.
Make connections. Make moves. In the heart of the hustle.
Harry S Truman College
Uptown, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
A culture of changemakers—to help you think bigger, and go further.
Kennedy-King College
Englewood, 6301 S. Halsted St.
Live here, learn here, lead here— in the heart of the South Side.
Malcolm X College
West Side, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
We break problems down. We lift people up.
Olive-Harvey College
Far South Side, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.
When you come here, there’s nowhere you can’t go.
Richard J. Daley College
Southwest Side, 7500 S. Pulaski Rd.
Community that’s built on collaboration.
Wilbur Wright College
Northwest Side, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave.
A place to call home, with the space to branch out.
We have seven colleges, all of which can help you:
Search our full Course Catalog:
Each of our colleges is independently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, meaning you can access federal/state financial aid and grants while at City Colleges and save thousands of dollars on your education. The credits you earn here can then help you transfer to a four-year college or university to earn your bachelor's degree.
Chicago's a big city, and we have big connections. In partnership with the area's largest companies, organizations, and institutions, we offer a range of unique opportunities to help you gain real-world experience, including internships, apprenticeships, and employer-aligned curriculum. Our students get their foot in the door before they step out of the classroom.
We're more than a college—we're a community, setting our students up for success with one-on-one academic support, mental health and wellness resources, childcare centers, food pantries, and more. Our colleges provide all the services and support you need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.
Our faculty and staff are diverse—just like our students and our city. As experts in their fields, they not only provide high-quality instruction, but they can help you get connected to high-quality opportunities and experiences.
The support Sam Roberts received as a student at Harold Washington College inspired her to pay it forward. She’s now preparing for a career as a social worker at Loyola University Chicago with support from the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
Growing up in Venezuela, Deynna Rey always dreamed of college. She started her journey in free ESL classes at Truman College and soon enrolled in credit classes with tuition support through the Gateway Scholars program. Deynna earned her associate degree last spring and is now attending Yale University on a full-ride scholarship.
As a child, Takeshia Carter built model cars and carried small auto parts in her pockets. After years of working in other industries, she followed her heart back to the automotive field. Takeshia is earning her associate degree in general studies with a focus on automotive collision repair at Kennedy-King College.
Elvis Dankwah left Ghana to follow in his family’s footsteps at Malcolm X College. As he works to prepare for pharmacy school, the Malcolm X College star soccer player can’t wait to continue his family’s tradition of excellence in healthcare.
Demetrius Porter didn’t let a COVID-related job lay-off get in the way of his success. With the support of Future Ready and Olive-Harvey College, he obtained his Commercial Driver’s License at no cost and is now earning the highest salary of his career.
After leaving prison, IT classes at Daley College helped Claudio Ramirez turn his life around. Within a few years of graduating, he surpassed his six-figure salary goal and is proud to be building generational wealth for his family.
Maria Delgado started on her college path in 1994. Grief and loss put school on hold but didn’t take away her dreams. Inspired by her children, Maria graduated from Wright College in 2022, 28 years after she began her journey there. Today, she has her sights on a bachelor’s degree and a career in healthcare.
Through our established transfer partnerships, you can seamlessly transfer to a four-year college or university, while our certificate programs can prepare you with the credentials needed to head straight into the workforce.
Still in high school? Our Early College program allows students to enroll in college-level courses, reducing both the time and the money needed to earn a college degree.
Explore all of our offerings in the City Colleges of Chicago catalog and our funding opportunities.
| Classes | Registration Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
| Summer: | June 1, 2024 | June 5, 2024 |
| Fall 16-Week: | August 18, 2024 | August 22, 2024 |
| Fall 12-Week: | September 19, 2024 | September 23, 2024 |
| Fall 8-Week: | October 17, 2024 | October 21, 2024 |
Plan your full year: Registration is also open for spring 2025 classes.
Step 1
Fill out the application here.
Step 2
Check your email for your acceptance, along with your username and password.
Step 3
Take a look at our admissions guide to learn more about what you will need to start your City Colleges journey.
Advance your career by learning English or completing your high school education for free. Our English as a Second Language (ESL) and high school equivalency courses welcome students from all backgrounds and are offered at various times throughout the day. Additionally, we offer pathways that can help you transition into college credit or job credential programs.
Whether you want to round out your resume or find a new hobby, we offer a variety of affordable learning opportunities for students of all ages. Our personal and professional development courses can improve both your job prospects and your quality of life.
Explore all of our Continuing Education offerings here.
Get the support you need as you apply to City Colleges by visiting our Virtual Student Services.
Each City College is a comprehensive community college with a Center of Excellence in a growing field: healthcare, transportation, distribution, and logistics (TDL), business, advanced manufacturing, information technology, engineering and computer science, education, and culinary arts and hospitality. Additionally, all of our colleges offer a wide range of general education courses that you can use to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree.
CCC students enjoy the option of taking classes at any of our colleges – no new applications or transferring required. You can see descriptions of all our credit programs and classes in our Course Catalog.
City Colleges is an open-access institution, so we welcome all students, no matter what interests and goals you have. There are separate application processes for students who want to take English or high school equivalency courses, first-year college credit students, and returning college credit students.
First-year students need to apply, complete testing, attend new student orientation, and then enroll in courses. ACT/SAT scores are used to determine if you need to take a placement test – not for acceptance.
Returning students with prior college credit need to apply, submit previous college transcripts, and then enroll in courses.
Students who are interested in taking English as a Second Language or GED/HiSET prep classes should start here.
Students can save thousands of dollars by taking classes at City Colleges to earn a degree or certificate. To view our tuition costs, which may vary depending on your residency, program, and the number of credits you are registered for, visit www.ccc.edu/tuition. To learn more about how to pay for your tuition, visit www.ccc.edu/payforcollege.
Classes in our Adult Education program (English as a Second Language classes and GED/HiSET prep classes) are offered at no cost.
If you wish to apply for federal financial aid, you must complete and submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to learn if you qualify. If you do, you may need to submit more information like your tax returns, marital status, etc.
If you are not eligible to fill out the FAFSA because you are an undocumented student, you may be eligible to fill out the RISE Act Alternative Application to qualify for financial aid.
At City Colleges, we’re working to make college more affordable for students by offering payment plans and other financial support opportunities. For example, you can pay your tuition in full, set up a monthly payment plan, or use financial aid, grants, and scholarships. Visit www.ccc.edu/payforcollege to learn more.
Yes. To connect with an advisor to discuss your options and begin mapping out your college journey, visit www.ccc.edu/VSS and select the college you would like to attend.
